Despite playing three teams in just one season out of the Premier League, Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town secured back-to-back promotions and finished runners-up and second in the Championship. Leicester city They won 2-0 against Huddersfield Town. This makes the Tractor Boys the fourth team to be promoted from League One to the Championship and then to the Premier League, following Southampton in 2012. norwich city 2011, and watford In 2009.
There are plenty of stories of teams steadily rising through the ranks, but the speed with which Ipswich have done so is unprecedented, having amassed more than 180 points over the past few seasons. McKenna only took over in December 2021, and since then the team has been on a winning streak, losing just eight of the 52 games he was in charge of. This will be the first time Portman Road has hosted Premier League football since 2002.
That season marked the beginning of a dark era for the Tractor Boys, as they were relegated despite reaching the second round of the UEFA Cup. Ipswich then struggled in mid-table in the Championship for 11 seasons before finally dropping to League One in 2019 after finishing 24th in the Championship. In League One, the club appeared to be stagnant until McKenna took charge, winning a club-record 98 points and helping the club return to the Championship. Now he has done even better in leading them to the Premier League.
By basic metrics, Ipswich are the third-fourth team in the Championship, with an expected goal difference of 25.7 going into the final weekend, which puts them fourth, but they have scored the most goals in the league. The decision helped prevent the inconsistency that plagued the teams around him.
This is also because Ipswich's 4-2-3-1 with McKenna has ensured they have contracts on a budget that maximizes the potential of every player at their disposal, without having to spend a ton of cash. . Taking the team's effort to a new level, 19 players found the back of the net, eight of whom scored more than his four goals. Six players also contributed 10 or more goals.
Tactically, Ipswich are careful about what they do when they don't have the ball in order to stop their opponent's transitions, and are also able to quickly turn defense into attack. With a fluid front four of Conor Chaplin and George Hirst, nathan Players like Broadhead and Wes Barnes can attack from all directions and create dangerous attacks.
Hurst in particular shows how effective McKenna's tactics can be. He had not scored a Championship goal before coming to Ipswich, but has now scored seven goals and provided six assists in limited action, completing his loan move from Leicester City. .
Thanks to some smart purchases, the Tractor Boys haven't slowed down, even in the face of injury. When Hurst was injured on Boxing Day, the kind of thing that could have derailed the season, Ipswich brought in Kieffer Moore on loan. bournemouth And the Welshman scored seven goals and assisted one more despite making an impact mid-season signing on medical orders.
Thanks to an investment of more than $130 million by US-based private equity firm Bright Path Sports Partners, Ipswich will not only have to rely on a budget deal in the Premier League, but will also have their right It is important that decision-making continues. Current CEO Mark Ashton will continue to run the club's day-to-day operations, which bodes well for a successful transition from the Championship to the Premier League.
Their fans will already be rooting for their team as the big game at Portman Road is quite an event. Ipswich have never lost a game in 31 home matches in Europe and are the only British team to never lose a match at home in European competition. The last of these came in 2002 before relegation, but if Ipswich can keep McKenna in the Premier League, every home fixture will be a must-see. Seeing a fun team scoring at will and pushing the pace was a treat not just for the fans but also for many of the players involved in this run from League One, such as Conor Chaplin, who will be a key member of the team again next season. It's encouraging.
Due to the transfer strategy, some loan players will need to be replaced next season, with players such as Jeremy Sarmiento being allowed to go on loan again to see if he is ready for the step up to the Premier League. There is a possibility that . The key, however, will be retaining McKenna.In the summer when I love working Manchester United It may open, but Ipswich will be focused on keeping one of the most high-profile names on the Portman Road management team.
With McKenna, this club could have a very high ceiling, but if they also need to replace him as he adapts to Premier League life, then that's when a quick return to the Championship could be in the cards. It might come. But as for today, that's nothing to worry about as Ipswich Town are once again a Premier League team for the first time in 22 years.
